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http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/29/the-daily-grind-whats-the-ideal-guild-size-in-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/29/the-daily-grind-whats-the-ideal-guild-size-in-an-mmo/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Last week, a Massively commenter mentioned that he was in a 700-person guild in The Elder Scrolls Online. Yep, you read that number right! He inspired an impromptu discussion about the problems inherent in a guild of that size, such as the difficulties of managing it, the potential for dozens of smaller cliques, and the frequently negative impact a big mob of people can have on a server community and a game's development.

Personally, I found that a 50-person guild was a real challenge to lead well; I prefer a much smaller group, 20 members or so, just enough that I feel I know everyone well and there aren't competing cliques of people creating drama. Conveniently, that's the kind of guild I'm in, too. How about you? What's the ideal guild size in an MMO?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

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brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindguildguild-sizeguildsopiniontdgthe-daily-grindThu, 29 Jan 2015 08:00:00 -0500319|21133432http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/crowfall-teases-fealty-system-ad-disad-mechanics/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/crowfall-teases-fealty-system-ad-disad-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/crowfall-teases-fealty-system-ad-disad-mechanics/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Upcoming MMO Crowfall is rolling out new teases this week, including some concept art of guild banners and a screenshot of character creation, which suggests an advantage/disadvantage system no doubt intended to tug the heartstrings of former Shadowbane players.

But what has our attention is the newly unveiled fealty chart, which definitely whisks Shadowbane or Asheron's Call immediately to mind. "This isn't a guild org chart," Crowfall'sJ. Todd Coleman cautions. "We support guilds (and guild structures) but we've laid a different system on top of that, which ties player fealty directly to land ownership. More on that system, and how it ties to siege conquest, will be coming soon."

Coleman promises "a more substantial update coming later this week." We've included all three images below.

Dev forum post
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ads-disadsadvantages-and-disadvantagesartcraftasherons-callcharacter-creationconcept-artcrowfallfealtyfealty-systemgalleriesgordon-waltonguildguildsj-todd-colemanplay-2-crushpreviewpreviewsscreenshotscreenshotstodd-colemanTue, 20 Jan 2015 14:00:00 -0500319|21132338http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/the-daily-grind-does-your-mmo-guild-use-social-networking-tools/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/the-daily-grind-does-your-mmo-guild-use-social-networking-tools/http://massively.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/the-daily-grind-does-your-mmo-guild-use-social-networking-tools/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
The apparent popularity of ZergID, the most recent social network and online gathering spot for MMO players and guilds, made me wonder just how many gamers actively use these types of tools. I can remember them at least as far back as the early 2000s, when ezBoard was king (remember ezBoard?!). More modern versions, like Enjin, expanded on the message board format to include profiles and calendars and even DKP.

But my guild has shied away from most such tools. We've always had a custom-built website with our own tools, some purchased software and some handcrafted just for us. I wouldn't want to risk losing data on another network, and truthfully, most of my guild's communication is done through other outlets anyway, like Steam, voice chat, and text-based chat channels.

What about you folks? Do you use ZergID, Enjin, or other sites to organize or track your friends and guildmates online?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

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brianna-royce-tdgchatcommunitydaily-grindenjinezboardguildguildsircopinionsocial-networksteamtdgthe-daily-grindzergidTue, 06 Jan 2015 08:00:00 -0500319|21123586http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/07/wow-guild-wars-2-and-archeage-are-zergid-users-top-games/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/07/wow-guild-wars-2-and-archeage-are-zergid-users-top-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/12/07/wow-guild-wars-2-and-archeage-are-zergid-users-top-games/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#commentsBack in November, we told you about ZergID, a new social networking website aimed specifically at MMO players who are looking for guilds (or friends from games past) across the MMOverse. We spoke to one of the project's founders, Scott Katz, to get more information on how the service's beta is shaping up.

Massively: How many guilds have signed up since the launch of beta?

Scott Katz, co-founder, Zerg Inc.: We have more than 650 guilds currently signed up for the site, with more joining each day.

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featuredguildguildsinterviewinterviewsscott-katzsocial-mediazerg-inczergidSun, 07 Dec 2014 14:00:00 -0500319|21003426http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/14/working-as-intended-niche-mmos-vs-the-everything-box/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/14/working-as-intended-niche-mmos-vs-the-everything-box/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/14/working-as-intended-niche-mmos-vs-the-everything-box/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
The MMO industry has lately focused on niche titles, niche communities, niche gameplay. It's not one particular niche, mind you. It's lots of different niches, all being catered to in different titles: PvPers, sadistic gankers, raiders, dungeoners, roleplayers, crafters, explorers, achievers, soloers, storygoers, casuals, hardcores, builders, destroyers, the I'm-skipping-class-for-a-week-to-play-games kids, the I've-got-five-minutes-what-can-I-play parents. There's an MMO or two out there for pretty much every one of us -- and for almost no one else.

So we dutifully buy the one that beckons directly to us, one of these small-minded "MMOs" that offer rewards for a certain playstyle or two but wilfully disregard every other imaginable playstyle. We applaud these games for having the guts to embrace being "niche" because we are convinced that having lots of little niche games is diversity.

Image credit
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editorialedward-castronovaeverything-boxfeaturedguildguildsmana-obscuranicheniche-mmoniche-mmosnichenessop-edopinionrantrantssandboxstar-wars-galaxiesterra-novaultima-onlineuoworking-as-intendedFri, 14 Nov 2014 12:00:00 -0500319|20991235http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/13/the-think-tank-keeping-in-touch-with-the-friends-in-the-magic-b/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/13/the-think-tank-keeping-in-touch-with-the-friends-in-the-magic-b/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/11/13/the-think-tank-keeping-in-touch-with-the-friends-in-the-magic-b/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Earlier this week in the comments of the article about MMO social network ZergID, readers went off on a tear about how MMO players keep in touch and communicate with guildies and friends beyond the game -- as my mom used to say, the people in the magic box. What quickly became obvious is that there's no one accepted method. Social media, forums, chats, IMs, Steam, and this crazy invention called a telephone were all mentioned. I thought we could use a more formal discussion, so in today's Think Tank, I asked the Massively writers how they keep in touch with guildies and MMO friends when they're not playing or when they're between games... if they keep in touch at all.

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brianna-royce-tttchatcommunicationeditorialfacebookfriendsfriends-listgoogle-plusgroup-editorialguildguildiesguildsIMsinstant-messengermassively-staffmassively-teammumbleopinionopinionsroundtableroundupsocial-mediasteamtext-messagetextsthe-think-tankthink-tanktwitterventriloThu, 13 Nov 2014 20:00:00 -0500319|20993193http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/the-daily-grind-would-you-spend-money-in-an-mmo-for-your-guild/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/the-daily-grind-would-you-spend-money-in-an-mmo-for-your-guild/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/10/21/the-daily-grind-would-you-spend-money-in-an-mmo-for-your-guild/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
A recent Gamasutra piece chronicled a monetization design consultant's journey into what he calls a "social elder game." Author Ethan Levy participated in multiple high-end, time-limited guild-vs.-guild events in an unnamed online game to see just how much guild members would need to pay out to keep their guild competitive. Hundreds of dollars later, he was able to push his guild into the top 100 to receive what he called "B tier" gear. In fact, he estimated that the top 100 guilds spent between $85,000 and $100,000 -- just on that one event.

I'm willing to give my guildies a lot of things -- Steam games, a spot on my couch, my old video card, thesis proofreading -- but I wouldn't drop that kind of money just to make us competitive in a video game, especially if I felt a studio was being exploitative with its "social elder game." Would you? Would you spend money in an MMO for your guild? How much?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

CoC image courtesy of Joystiq
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brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindgamasutraguildguildsopinionpvpsocial-elder-gametdgthe-daily-grindTue, 21 Oct 2014 08:00:00 -0400319|20977168http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/25/guild-wars-2-improving-megaserver-guilds-in-september/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/25/guild-wars-2-improving-megaserver-guilds-in-september/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/25/guild-wars-2-improving-megaserver-guilds-in-september/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Another feature pack is rolling out for Guild Wars 2 in September, and it's bringing improvements to guild functions along with it. It's starting with the rollout of global guilds, allowing the resources earned by a given guild on all worlds to feed into the same central group, rather than creating small-scale copies of the guild on every individual world. That includes guild vaults, guild merits, and guild influence, all of which will be pooled with the feature pack update.

Guild missions and finding allies on different maps will also receive improvements, making it easier to take care of objectives with your friends across the globe. The official post also discusses the language divisions found on European servers, with the team electing not to split players based upon language at this time to bolster population. Read the full update for more details on how the changes will affect guilds and players when the patch goes live in September.

Continued Improvements to the Megaserver System
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anetarenanetbuy-to-playfantasyfeature-patchgame-mechanicsguildguild-mechanicsguild-wars-2guildsgw2ncsoftnewsnews-itemspatchesseptember-feature-patchserverupdateupdatesMon, 25 Aug 2014 14:00:00 -0400319|20952076http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/19/swtors-galactic-strongholds-expansion-is-live/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/19/swtors-galactic-strongholds-expansion-is-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/19/swtors-galactic-strongholds-expansion-is-live/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Early access to Star Wars: The Old Republic'sGalactic Strongholds expansion is now live for subscribers.

BioWare Producer Jack Wood welcomed players to SWTOR's third expansion with a lengthy developer blog about the studio's goals in this housing-centric update, boasting that it offers "something for everyone," whether you want to "sit back and relax in your personal stronghold," establish a guild base, participate in conquest leaderboard content, or take on the new tactical flashpoint, Depths of Manaan.

YouTube, Producer blog
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biowareeaelectronic-artsf2pfree-to-playguildguildslucasartssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortrailertrailersvideovideosTue, 19 Aug 2014 17:30:00 -0400319|20949379http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/07/landmark-guilds-are-a-go/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/07/landmark-guilds-are-a-go/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/08/07/landmark-guilds-are-a-go/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
It's a very special day for Landmark's community, as after a brief delay yesterday and today, SOE has finally activated guilds in the game. The new system interface allows for guild creation, news, roster, and administration options. The studio says that it deliberately kept the UI simple for this first draft and that it will be refining and adding onto the guild system in the future.

Today's patch wasn't just about guilds, however. The team added in glass voxels, ice materials, multi-screenshot functionality for claims, dozens of new party-themed props, and PlanetSide 2 outfit tints. The patch also increased the claim upkeep advance payment to 15 days and synced up friends lists with Steam friends.

Patch notes, Guilds are here
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eq-next-landmarkeqn-landmarkeqnleverquest-next-landmarkfantasyguildguildslandmarkpatchpatch-notespgcplanetside-2player-generated-contentps2sandboxsoesony-online-entertainmentsteamupdateupdate-notesThu, 07 Aug 2014 21:00:00 -0400319|20942991http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/16/elder-scroll-online-offers-new-guild-heraldry/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/16/elder-scroll-online-offers-new-guild-heraldry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/16/elder-scroll-online-offers-new-guild-heraldry/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
If you're excited for August's Elder Scrolls Online upcoming update, then today's ZeniMax devblog will be a welcome one... though not one that promises sweeping changes for the game. Specifically, the new post previews some of the new symbols that guilds can adopt as their official crests. "You'll probably recognize some of them, like the symbols for the Divines and the Daedric Princes," write the developers. "Combine these with even more crests, a huge color palette, and different tabard shapes, and your guild will have its own memorable look."

Dev blog
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bethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftcrestdaggerfallelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlineesofactionsguildguildsheraldrymorrowindoblivionpvprvrskill-basedskyrimsymboltamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvpzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosWed, 16 Jul 2014 17:30:00 -0400319|20932379http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/09/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-third-update-lands-in-august/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/09/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-third-update-lands-in-august/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/07/09/the-elder-scrolls-onlines-third-update-lands-in-august/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#commentsZeniMax says that The Elder Scrolls Online'snext patch, which includes the preliminary veteran rank system changes and balance fixes previewed in yesterday's dev blog, is officially on the way next month.

The patch is coming in early August and introduces armor dyes, guild tabards, public guild store locations, a new difficulty mode for Trials, and plenty of fixes and improvements. You'll be able to personalize your look more than ever before, represent your guild, and charge with them into a new level of challenge.

The team has posted a preview video focusing on the many changes to guilds due in the patch. Wanna join our guild? We have tabards, yo! Enjoy the video below.

Dev blog
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bethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftdaggerfallelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlineesofactionsguildguildsmorrowindoblivionpatchpvprvrskill-basedskyrimtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptrailertrailersupdatevideovideoszenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosWed, 09 Jul 2014 17:30:00 -0400319|20928142http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/26/the-daily-grind-does-your-guild-stay-together-between-mmos/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/26/the-daily-grind-does-your-guild-stay-together-between-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/26/the-daily-grind-does-your-guild-stay-together-between-mmos/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
I can't remember the exact moment that my MMO guildies collectively realized, hey, we are pretty good friends and we like each other enough to play other games together so maybe let's do that, but that's more or less what happened. After a few years of trying to figure out our place in the MMO world, we settled down into a pattern: The same core folks migrate to new and old games together and check them out as a cohesive unit. This year has been a bit different, though, as the big releases haven't enticed enough of us or have made it so difficult for our international group to play on the same server that it's not been worth the trouble.

What about you folks -- does your guild stick together from MMO to MMO? Or do you join a new guild for a fresh game?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

Starting this June 24th and lasting for two weeks, Horde players on the servers Firetree, Frostmane and Bloodscale will be eligible to transfer from Horde to Alliance for free. And to prove their seriousness, Blizzard is going beyond the usual here.

Guild leaders who want to faction-change their guild for free will first need to pay for the initial transaction, but will be granted a refund if they change to the eligible faction within the free-faction-change time frame.

What this is aimed at, according to the post itself, is queue times (especially in PvP) and it's a direct attempt to reduce them. So if you're a Horde player on those servers and you're looking to swap sides for shorter queues, here's your chance, and you can even bring your entire guild over for free.

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fraction-changefree-faction-changeGuildPvpMon, 23 Jun 2014 18:00:00 -040099|20918450http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/18/mechwarrior-online-launches-the-clan-invasion/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/18/mechwarrior-online-launches-the-clan-invasion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/18/mechwarrior-online-launches-the-clan-invasion/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#commentsMechWarrior Online has moved forward the internal game timeline to the year 3049, and with the change of date comes a long awaited event: the Clan Invasion.

This fictional event in the BattleTech universe will now play out in the online game, as players will fight in notable battles with new 'Mechs on different planets.

With the Clan Invasion begun, the team has begun work on creating Units for the game. Units are MWO's version of guilds and will include ranks and chat channels when they arrive in the game proper.

The invasion is here
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clan-invasionf2pfree-to-playguildguildsmechmechsmechwarriormechwarrior-mmomechwarrior-onlinemwopiranhapiranha-gamespreviewsci-fiunitunitsWed, 18 Jun 2014 17:00:00 -0400319|20915329http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/06/17/breakfast-topic-do-you-stick-with-your-guild/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/06/17/breakfast-topic-do-you-stick-with-your-guild/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/06/17/breakfast-topic-do-you-stick-with-your-guild/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
In a game as long-lived as World of Warcraft, virtual acquaintances come and go. Players stop playing, guilds break up (or simply grow inactive), and groups of friends move apart. Over the course of WoW's nearly ten-year lifespan, it's hard to blame anyone who's grown tired and walked away. But sometimes guilds stand a longer test of time, passing from leader to leader, maintaining an identity of sorts even though the game -- and the guild members -- may have changed.

And for some gamers, who you're gaming with is all that matters -- membership in an agreeable guild is crucial to fun gameplay. For others, tackling content matters more, and those gamers might jump from guild to find a group that best suits them. Today, we're asking whether you've stuck with your guild: do you game with the same group of players day after day, or do you come and go from guilds as your gameplay needs change?

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featuredgame-discussiongamer-discussionguildguildsworld-of-warcraft-discussionworld-of-warcraft-topicswow-discussionwow-guildswow-hot-topicswow-issueswow-topicsTue, 17 Jun 2014 09:00:00 -040099|20913608http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/14/the-daily-grind-does-guild-recruitment-annoy-you/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/14/the-daily-grind-does-guild-recruitment-annoy-you/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/14/the-daily-grind-does-guild-recruitment-annoy-you/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Developing and growing a guild can be a formidable challenge, especially if an MMO doesn't provide adequate tools for recruitment (hint hint, studios). There are many ways to go about it, from word-of-mouth to posts on the official forums. But I've noticed that one tactic that certain guilds use is to spam recruitment messages over and over in lowbie zones and city centers.

This... started to really bug me the other day while playing WildStar. Seeing a message once was fine. Seeing the same message every five or 10 minutes felt like there was an annoying alarm clock that kept going off and the only way to shut it up was the ignore button.

Does guild recruitment annoy you? What are some dos and don'ts that guilds should follow in this regard?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

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daily-grindguildguild-recruitmentguildsopiniontdgthe-daily-grindSat, 14 Jun 2014 08:00:00 -0400319|20908889http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/13/working-as-intended-the-forgotten-fields-of-green-acres/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/13/working-as-intended-the-forgotten-fields-of-green-acres/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/06/13/working-as-intended-the-forgotten-fields-of-green-acres/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
My first trip to Ultima Online's Green Acres was in 1998. The first guild I'd ever joined had just split up into a bunch of... let's call them "philosophically incompatible" groups, and I was still hanging out with some of the shadier types because I was a clueless teenager in my first MMO and wanted desperately to fit in and hadn't yet figured out where I belonged.

"Hit this rune," my new guild leader commanded. His favorite murderin' weapon was a poisoned warfork. He was not a nice man. "I'm being evicted from my safehouse in Green Acres. Help me move my crap."

Vendetta, a space sim sandbox that offers single-shard gameplay across operating systems including Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, and iOS, has been running since April of 2002 and has heretofore subsisted on the subscription model. Guild says that subscribers "will still get everything, across all platforms, without any need for these types of optional purchases."

Microtransactions will be exclusively for Vendetta pilots on Lite accounts, and the structure of the cash shop will "require refinement and continued feedback from the userbase." Guild concludes that a hybrid business model is "an expected necessity on mobile," and it is working to adapt and court additional players.

Announcement
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guildguild-softwareinternet-spaceshipssandboxsci-fivendettavendetta-cash-shopvendetta-microtransactionsvendetta-onlineMon, 02 Jun 2014 09:00:00 -0400319|20903819http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/28/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-a-guild-for-wildstar/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/28/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-a-guild-for-wildstar/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/28/the-daily-grind-do-you-have-a-guild-for-wildstar/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
It's hard to believe that in just a few short days the head start for WildStar and the invasion of Nexus will begin. There is a lot to do for players planning on being a part of it, not the least of which is to figure out which guild they'll join (if one at all).

So assuming that you'll be playing WildStar, do you have a guild ready for it or are you still searching? If you do have a guild, why not tell the rest of the class about it and how you found it!

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

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carbinecarbine-studiosdaily-grindguildguildsncsoftopinionsandparksci-fantasysci-fitdgthe-daily-grindwildstarwsWed, 28 May 2014 08:00:00 -0400319|20892296http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/05/23/keeping-your-guild-active-during-the-down-time/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/05/23/keeping-your-guild-active-during-the-down-time/http://wow.joystiq.com/2014/05/23/keeping-your-guild-active-during-the-down-time/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
Guild leaders have been sending us a lot of questions in the Queue and elsewhere about how to keep their guild active during the down time between expansions. At this point many guilds have already cleared Orgrimmar and are either slowly working on heroic modes or stalled out entirely. It's not that anyone is doing anything wrong -- they're not -- it's just the nature of players. After things have been accomplished, why bother continuing on? This is totally a normal behavior and shouldn't be taken as anyone abandoning the guild or anything silly like that.*

So, life is slow on the forefront of raiding. What can you do? Change your game. Make the game not about killing pixels from this expansion, but about experiencing everything in a social atmosphere. I've had to make this transition a lot, and I've always found it works.

End current content raiding
Make an official end to the current tier of raiding and move to other activities. Allow for a small group to form that wants to keep pushing into harder heroics and what not, but don't make anyone feel like they have to go. And don't feel obligated yourself too -- it's okay in a guild leadership position to sit out and just facilitate.

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dead-guildguildguild-leadershipguild-transitionguildsFri, 23 May 2014 15:00:00 -040099|20889823http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/16/zenimax-invites-you-to-watch-other-people-play-the-elder-scrolls/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/16/zenimax-invites-you-to-watch-other-people-play-the-elder-scrolls/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/16/zenimax-invites-you-to-watch-other-people-play-the-elder-scrolls/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#commentsZeniMax has just announced a streamed Elder Scrolls Online competition in which selected guilds will rush through one of the brand-new trials launching with the Craglorn patch... and you can tune in to watch them succeed or fail live on Twitch this coming Saturday. Trials are intended as 12-player raids with hardcore mechanics like limited resurrections and complex encounters. "When it's all over," says the studio, "the guild with the best Aetherian Archive completion time (if [it] can finish!) will be declared the winner."

Here's the complete schedule of start times on Saturday and Twitch channels for each guild:

ZeniMax blog
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bethesdabethesda-softworksbethsoftdaggerfallelder-scrollselder-scrolls-onlineesofactionsguildguildsmorrowindoblivionpvprvrskill-basedskyrimspeed-runstreamtamrieltestesothe-elder-scrollsthe-elder-scrolls-onlinethree-faction-pvpthree-way-pvptrialtrialstwitchzenimaxzenimax-mediazenimax-onlinezenimax-online-studiosFri, 16 May 2014 17:30:00 -0400319|20887454http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/09/vendetta-getting-major-graphical-and-engine-changes-steam-rel/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/09/vendetta-getting-major-graphical-and-engine-changes-steam-rel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/09/vendetta-getting-major-graphical-and-engine-changes-steam-rel/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#commentsVendetta Online's latest newsletter has announced major graphical and engine changes, along with Oculus Rift HD support and a forthcoming Steam release.

Lead developer John Bergman explains that Guild Software is "working on a whole new client-server architecture to make it possible for us to generate massively dense sectors of unlimited scale." The new sectors will showcase various graphical upgrades including advanced lighting, shadow, volume effects, and more.

These and other upgrades are part of what Bergman is temporarily calling Vendetta 2.0, which "will represent the goals that I set out to build back when we started on this crazy space MMORPG development journey over sixteen years ago."

Vendetta is a subscription-based sandbox MMO that allows players on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Ouya, and Oculus Rift to play on the same server. It first launched in 2002.

Newsletter
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guildguild-softwarejohn-bergmansandboxsteamsubscriptionvendettavendetta-2.0vendetta-engine-upgradevendetta-onlinevendetta-steamFri, 09 May 2014 09:00:00 -0400319|20883034http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/09/the-daily-grind-should-mmos-require-minimum-guild-sizes/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/09/the-daily-grind-should-mmos-require-minimum-guild-sizes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/09/the-daily-grind-should-mmos-require-minimum-guild-sizes/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
A listener recently wrote in to Massively's podcast to express his frustration with recruiting in MMOs since so many players avoid chat and guild advertisements. The community situation in many games can make it difficult for smaller guilds that refuse to spam to build up enough players to access basic guild functions, like guild banks. I myself have been testing out a game with player-run villages that requires guilds to have 25 active guild members settled there lest it lose its instanced town, which is a lot of people for a tiny, indie game, and a number that almost requires players to artificially inflate their rosters.

But the problem is that games impose arbitrary player minimums for guild charters and banks and ranks and so forth to begin with. For every Guild Wars 2 that lets you have a lonely solo guild if you want it, there's a World of Warcraft that requires you to summon 10 warm bodies first -- even if you then immediately boot the other nine, making the requirement a pointless and tedious exercise.

What do you think: Should MMOs require minimum guild sizes?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

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brianna-royce-tdgdaily-grindguildguild-bankguild-sizeGuild-Wars-2gw2opinionrostertdgthe-daily-grindWorld-of-WarcraftwowFri, 09 May 2014 08:00:00 -0400319|20877104http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/02/pathfinder-online-announces-a-second-guild-land-rush/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/02/pathfinder-online-announces-a-second-guild-land-rush/http://massively.joystiq.com/2014/05/02/pathfinder-online-announces-a-second-guild-land-rush/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#commentsPathfinder Online'sLee Hammock today announced the three winners of Goblinworks' promotional guild competition: The Empyrean Order, Pax Aeternum, and The Seventh Veil. The guilds will helm the first three PC settlements when the game hits early enrollment.

But you don't care because you're probably not in any of those guilds, right? So Goblinworks hopes to command your attention with a new account system that will pave the way for you to claim a chunk of the game world for you and your mates. Anyone's who's bought a crowdforger or early enrollment package for the game can form a guild for this second "Land Rush," which will go on for 10 weeks and allow teams to jockey for position and territory long before the game goes live.

More details on how to finagle a guild settlement once the new system is active can be found on the official blog.